Cost Effective Measures to Improve Traffic Management in the Ja-Ela Town Area

COST EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN THE JA-ELA TOWN AREA K. P. J. G. Perera This thesis was submitted to the Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Engineering LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA SRI LANKA MORATUWA Supervised By Professor Amal S. Kumarage Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa 6£ YC° ^-0 Sri Lanka 85792 January 2006 85792 ?S7?2 DECLARATION The work included in this Thesis is part or whole, has not been submitted for any other academic qualification at any institution K P J G Perera Professor Amal S.Kumarage ABSTRACT Vehicular transportation activities dominate the movement of passengers as well as freight in Sri Lanka. Road network improvements take place all over the country under development projects. Enormous funds have been allocated for improving roads in order to facilitate the increasing number of vehicles. In order to establish an efficient transport system traffic management measures should be improved in line with the current development programs in the country. Serious thought should be given to such measures where a higher contribution to economic development falls in line with road transportation. The Ja-ela town is located on A3 road within the Western Province and a part of the northern bound traffic is routed through this town. Economically important places of the country are served by the A3 road and reducing delays on this major arterial road is essential. In drafting methodologies to achieve the said perspective urban cities within the A3 road corridor should be given priority. The objective of this research was to find "Cost effective measures to improve traffic management in the Ja-ela town area". Present activities around the town area were broadly considered in drafting development scenarios for traffic improvement. Different modes of transport were considered and survey data were collected for necessary analysis. In addition, pedestrian movements, private vehicular parking and road improvements were identified as essential elements in developing methodical strategies for the new development. Bus transportation was given special consideration in developing these schedules and reducing waiting times. The private bus operating system needs a few changes in route 187 to operate in a more efficient manner. The possibility of extending this particular route to the Tudella junction is one of the major findings of the research. The owners and users of private buses would yield the benefits of the proposal. To improve the above areas of influence new construction proposals have been brought forward. These proposals are recommended to be implemented in two stages to reduce the burden on administrative authorities in budgetary allocations. Stage construction will be encouraged by the society due to minimum interruptions to main road traffic. Supportive approach should be needed from different administrative authorities in implementing the proposed development plans. Cost and benefits over the project life have been considered in the economic evaluation. It is evident from this economic evaluation that the proposed new development plans to improve delays on A3 road enhance benefits to the society. All economic indicators are in favor of the new proposal. Similar studies in other urban areas should be done to find out the possibilities of developing similar scenarios in contributing to the improvement of traffic management measures in the National Road Network. 11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Amal S. Kumarage, for his constant guidance and encouragement given to me throughout the study without whose invaluable commitment and dedication this study may not have been a reality. The valuable suggestions made by Professor J. M. S. Bandara are also worthy of my gratitude. Despite their busy schedules both professors have given me invaluable technical thoughts in completing this study. Special thanks to Lecturer Mr. M.B.S.Fernado, Chairman, Road Development Authority, for the words of encouragement and inculcating the desire in me to complete the study. Special thanks are also offered to the Head of the Department of Civil Engineering in conducting a Post Graduate course in Highway & Traffic and selecting me to follow this valuable course in year 2003. I also take this as an opportunity to thank my employer Resources Development Consultants Ltd, for releasing me from normal duties on Fridays to follow this Post Graduate program. I would also extend my thanks to the Traffic Laboratory Staff, Department of Civil Engineering, for extending their support to me during this research. Also I express my gratitude to Mrs Indira J. Mawelle in assessing the text of the thesis. The assistance provided by my friends Kithsiri, Roshan and Malani is commendable. Finally, I thank my beloved wife Deepika and my two sons for their moral support and tolerance that shone with so many sacrifices made throughout the long period of the two years of my Post Graduate Program and in the preparation of this thesis. in CONTENTS Abstract Acknowledgment Contents List of Figures List of Tables List of Abbreviations Chapter I 1.0 INTRODUCTION Chapter II 2.0 PRESENT SITUATION OF ROAD SYSTEM 2.1 Description 2.2 Present Road Network 2.2.1 Major Arterial Road 2.2.2 Minor Arterial Road 2.2.3 Feeder Roads 2.2.4 Road Links to Public Bus Terminal 2.2.5 Church Road 2.3 Summary Chapter III 3.0 IDENTIFICATION OF NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS 3.1 Selection of Area 3.2 Key Areas of Improvements Chapter IV 4.0 METHODOLOGY AND DATA COLLECTION 14 4.1 Methodology 14 4.2 Data Collection 15 Chapter V 5.0 DEVELOPMENT IN PEDESTRAIN FACILITIES 17 5.1 Methodology Adopted for Pedestrian 17 5.2 Data Collection on Pedestrian Movement 18 5.3 Results of Pedestrian Crossing Data Analysis 19 5.3.1 Crossing at the Urban Council Building 19 5.3.2 Crossing in front of the Market Building 20 5.3.3 Crossing near; the Bridge 21 5.3.4 Crossing in front of the People's Bank Building 22 5.4 Summary 23 Chapter VI 6.0 DEVELOPMENT IN THREE WHEELER CIRCULATION 25 6.1 Methodology Adopted for Three Wheelers 25 6.2 Coding System for Trip Origin 28 6.3 Coding System for Trip Destination 28 6.4 Data Collection from Three Wheelers 30 6.5 Three Wheeler Data Analysis 31 6.6 Origin and Destination Matrix for Three-wheelers 32 6.7 Results of Three Wheeler Data Analysis 34 6.7.1 Location A 34 6.7.2 Location B 35 6.7.3 Location C 36 6.7.4 Location D 38 6.7.5 Location E 39 6.7.6 Location F 41 6.7.7 Location G 42 v 6.7.8 Origin and Destination for all Three Wheelers 43 6.8 Summary 43 Chapter VII 7.0 DEVELOPMENT IN BUS TRANSPORTATION FACILITY 45 7.1 Methodology Adopted for Buses 45 7.2 Objectives of Bus Transportation 46 7.3 Data Collection on Buses 47 7.4 Data Analysis on Bus Transportation 48 7.5 Departure and Arrival Statistics 49 7.5.1 Departure on Route 187 49 7.5.2 Load Factors on Route 187 Buses 50 7.5.3 Departure on All Other Routes 52 7.5.4 Arrivals on All Routes 53 7.5.5 Load Factors on All Routes (Except #187) 54 7.6 Summary 57 Chapter VIII 8.0 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT 58 8.1 Methodology 58 8.2 Data Collection 58 8.3 Data Analysis of Police Station Intersection 59 > 8.4 Data Analysis of Urban Council Intersection 61 8.5 Summary 63 Chapter IX 9.0 BRIDGE WIDENING 64 9.1 Methodology 64 9.2 Travel Time Survey 65 9.3 Data Analysis on Travel Time Survey 65 9.4 Summary 70 vi Chapter X 10.0 DEVELOPMENT IN PARKING FACILITIES 71 10.1 Methodology Adopted for Vehicular Parks 71 10.2 Data Collection on Parking Facilities 72 10.3 Data Analysis on Parking 72 10.4 Summary 74 Chapter XI 11.0 DEVELOPMENT IN TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT 76 11.1 Methodology Adopted for Traffic Management 76 11.2 Church Road Intersection 76 11.3 Traffic Management System within the Town 77 11.4 Summary 79 Chapter XII 12.0 NEW DEVELOPMENT 80 12.1 Proposed New Underpass 80 12.2 Bridge Widening 83 12.3 Route 187 Buses Extending up to Tudella Junction 83 12.4 Other Necessary Improvements 86 12.5. Summary 87 Chapter XIII 13.0 COST AND BENEFIT CALCULATION 88 13.1 Travel Time Saving 88 13.1.1 Passenger Travel Time Saving 88 13.1.2 Freight Travel Time Saving 91 13.2 Fuel Cost Saving 94 13.3 Pollutant Cost Saving 97 13.4 Accident Cost Saving 100 13.5 Summary 102 vn Chapter XIV 14.0 ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT 14.1 Net Present Value of Benefits 14.2 Calculation of Net Benefits 14.3 Benefit Cost Ratio 14.4 Economic Internal Rate of Return 14.5 Sensitivity Analysis 14.6 Summary Chapter XV 15.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS REFERENCES APPENDICES Appendix 1- Classified traffic count data Appendix 2- Sample data set of full analysis (Location B) Appendix 3-3 hour sample bus arrival data Appendix 4- 3 hour sample bus departure schedule LIST OF FIGURES Figure No. Description Page No 1.1 Present Congestion level on A3 Road 3 2.1 Schematic Diagram of Ja-ela Town Area 6 2.2 Congestion near Bank of Ceylon Building 7 2.3 Roads within the Town Area 10 5.1 Pedestrian Movement at UC Intersection 19 5.2 Pedestrian Movement in front of Market 20 5.3 Pedestrian Movement Near the Bridge 21 5.4 Pedestrian Movement in front of People's Bank 22 6.1 Number of Accidents in Sri Lanka 25 6.2 Three-wheeler Locations and Destination Coding 27 6.3 Number of Three Wheeler Trips from Location A 34 6.4 Number of Three Wheeler Trips from Location B 35 6.5 Number of Three Wheeler Trips from Location C 36 6.6 Number of Three Wheeler Trips from Location D 38 6.7 Number of Three Wheeler Trips from Location E 39 6.8 Number of Three Wheeler Trips from Location F 41 6.9 Number of Three Wheeler Trips from Location G 42 6.10 Origin and Destination for all Three Wheelers 43 7.1 Bus Terminal Facilities 45 7.2 Number of Passengers in Route 187 Private Buses 49 7.3 Number of Private Buses in Route 187 49 ix Figure No.

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